March 06, 2008

Oh, it's on. And it's been brought. The very first Philadelphia Elite event was held on March 5, and, needless to say, it was a smashing success (luckily, nothing was actually smashed in the process - everyone was on their best behavior). We were also joined by the lovely Stephy H, Yelp's National Marketing Director, who brought her superpowers directly from the San Francisco HQ to cheer us on and crack us up.

The swanky, sexy Palace at the Ben played host to an amazing crowd of veteran yelpers and new enthusiasts alike, and it couldn't have been a better mix of people. Appetizers were consumed (you haven't lived until you've experienced one of their samosas) and the drink of the night, the lovely pink-hued Yelp Rangpur Rose, was flowing freely. Big thanks to Tanqueray, who was the alcohol sponsor for the evening - who knew gin, ginger, pomegranate liqueur and rose water could be so darn delicious?

The evening also featured the beautiful henna body art of Jumana Bootwala, who adorned yelpers and their guests with the signature Yelp burst and other traditional designs as well as the paparazzi-like skills of our very own Dave H. Check out the photos to see such yelpers as Bill M, Chad T, Lakara B, Pearl L and a whole roomful of my new favorite people.

Everyone left happy, full and cozy, thanks to the awesome new Elite hoodies that were handed out (thanks Michael E for working your magic at check in and check out!). Thanks to our up and coming community for coming out and showing the love, and major hugs and kisses to Ryan and the entire staff of the Palace at the Ben - these folks sure know how to show a group of passionate Philadelphians an amazing time.

So buckle your seatbelts, kids, and keep on yelping so you can snag an invite to the regular elite events...judging by the buzz over on the talk threads and all the great photos, the Yelp parties will soon become the stuff of legends.